Heat damage with Headers
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 1
From: Southlake Texas
So wrapping the header pipe partially is ok. I have read that wrapping the pipes is not a good idea. I was told to wrap the forward pipe a bit on the passenger side due to to much heat on a air conditioner part. The heat causes the air conditioner to shut down. Have not done it yet, still trying to get advice.
"Should I use a Header Wrap?"
"NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT. There is nothing that will damage a header faster than the use of a header wrap, other than attacking it with a hammer or shot gun. As advertised, these wraps do keep the majority of exhaust gas temperatures within the header. The result is the wraps will prohibit the header tubing from cooling properly. If you reduce the ability for headers to dissipate adequate heat properly, the result will be premature failure of the metal. Depending upon the application use and temperatures involved, the life can be reduced to only a few hours. We consider exhaust wraps to be the header manufacturer's best friend.
If engine compartment temperatures are an issue, the best solution is to use insulation materials on the sheet metal. One alternative in some applications is to build a box around the headers and actually duct outside air into the box. In some applications ceramic coatings have been known to help (see notes on coatings above). Insulating any components that may be sensitive to heat, such as wiring, fuel & oil lines, etc., is a better option.
IMPORTANT: Use of header wraps will void any warranty."
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 347
Likes: 1
I have about 15,000 kilometers on my headers Kooks C6 Catted and no troubles nothing melting. I have a hoist here at home and have had the car on and off multiple times and have looked it over. I say if you have them installed correctly and clearanced properly to their surroundings you will be absolutely fine and enjoy many trouble free miles from them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix AZ
This is a direct quote from a header manufacturer:
"Should I use a Header Wrap?"
"NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT. There is nothing that will damage a header faster than the use of a header wrap, other than attacking it with a hammer or shot gun. As advertised, these wraps do keep the majority of exhaust gas temperatures within the header. The result is the wraps will prohibit the header tubing from cooling properly. If you reduce the ability for headers to dissipate adequate heat properly, the result will be premature failure of the metal. Depending upon the application use and temperatures involved, the life can be reduced to only a few hours. We consider exhaust wraps to be the header manufacturer's best friend.
If engine compartment temperatures are an issue, the best solution is to use insulation materials on the sheet metal. One alternative in some applications is to build a box around the headers and actually duct outside air into the box. In some applications ceramic coatings have been known to help (see notes on coatings above). Insulating any components that may be sensitive to heat, such as wiring, fuel & oil lines, etc., is a better option.
IMPORTANT: Use of header wraps will void any warranty."
"Should I use a Header Wrap?"
"NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT. There is nothing that will damage a header faster than the use of a header wrap, other than attacking it with a hammer or shot gun. As advertised, these wraps do keep the majority of exhaust gas temperatures within the header. The result is the wraps will prohibit the header tubing from cooling properly. If you reduce the ability for headers to dissipate adequate heat properly, the result will be premature failure of the metal. Depending upon the application use and temperatures involved, the life can be reduced to only a few hours. We consider exhaust wraps to be the header manufacturer's best friend.
If engine compartment temperatures are an issue, the best solution is to use insulation materials on the sheet metal. One alternative in some applications is to build a box around the headers and actually duct outside air into the box. In some applications ceramic coatings have been known to help (see notes on coatings above). Insulating any components that may be sensitive to heat, such as wiring, fuel & oil lines, etc., is a better option.
IMPORTANT: Use of header wraps will void any warranty."
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 741
Likes: 8
From: Netherlands
This is a direct quote from a header manufacturer:
"Should I use a Header Wrap?"
"NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT. There is nothing that will damage a header faster than the use of a header wrap, other than attacking it with a hammer or shot gun. As advertised, these wraps do keep the majority of exhaust gas temperatures within the header. The result is the wraps will prohibit the header tubing from cooling properly. If you reduce the ability for headers to dissipate adequate heat properly, the result will be premature failure of the metal. Depending upon the application use and temperatures involved, the life can be reduced to only a few hours. We consider exhaust wraps to be the header manufacturer's best friend.
If engine compartment temperatures are an issue, the best solution is to use insulation materials on the sheet metal. One alternative in some applications is to build a box around the headers and actually duct outside air into the box. In some applications ceramic coatings have been known to help (see notes on coatings above). Insulating any components that may be sensitive to heat, such as wiring, fuel & oil lines, etc., is a better option.
IMPORTANT: Use of header wraps will void any warranty."
"Should I use a Header Wrap?"
"NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT. There is nothing that will damage a header faster than the use of a header wrap, other than attacking it with a hammer or shot gun. As advertised, these wraps do keep the majority of exhaust gas temperatures within the header. The result is the wraps will prohibit the header tubing from cooling properly. If you reduce the ability for headers to dissipate adequate heat properly, the result will be premature failure of the metal. Depending upon the application use and temperatures involved, the life can be reduced to only a few hours. We consider exhaust wraps to be the header manufacturer's best friend.
If engine compartment temperatures are an issue, the best solution is to use insulation materials on the sheet metal. One alternative in some applications is to build a box around the headers and actually duct outside air into the box. In some applications ceramic coatings have been known to help (see notes on coatings above). Insulating any components that may be sensitive to heat, such as wiring, fuel & oil lines, etc., is a better option.
IMPORTANT: Use of header wraps will void any warranty."
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix AZ
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
This is a great dialogue. I've had LG Pro LT's with hi-flow cats and Corsa Sport Quad tips for 8000 miles and no issues with heat altho I do have MSD 8.5 wires. I was thinking I may take them off and have them Jet Hot coated, but I'm rethinking that now. If there's no problem, there's no fix necessary.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,897
Likes: 412
From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I know this is coming from someone that works at LG (me). I have had our LG Pro's on my 2006 Z51 since the car had about 1500 miles on it (I got it new), and the car currently has just shy of 52,000 daily driven miles. That's sunny hot Texas days to cold rainy nights. They are not coated, and I am using stock plug wires on the car with the stock metal heat shields.
So far absolutely no issues with plug wires, plugs, underhood hoses, or wires. I may even be running one of the higher mileage sets of headers out there.
Of course they do start to turn that goldish bronze color over time and heat, so if you want that chrome look, coating is the only way to go, but I prefer a little character to the pipes myself.
So far absolutely no issues with plug wires, plugs, underhood hoses, or wires. I may even be running one of the higher mileage sets of headers out there.
Of course they do start to turn that goldish bronze color over time and heat, so if you want that chrome look, coating is the only way to go, but I prefer a little character to the pipes myself.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,897
Likes: 412
From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
